Pro-life advocate condemns priest's support for abortion

Human Life International president Father Shenan J. Boquet criticized Colombian priest Fr. Carlos Navoa's use of Church documents to defend his stance in favor of abortion.

"To be clear, there is absolutely no justification for abortion in Church teaching, and any Catholic, even a priest, who says differently separates himself from the Church in doing so," Fr. Boquet said in a Nov. 17 statement.

"While it is the duty and responsibility of every priest, and all children of Christ, to faithfully proclaim the true teachings of our Lord and the Catholic Church, sadly there are some who mislead the faithful," he added.

In several recent radio and television interviews, Fr. NovoaŚwho teaches at the Pontifical Xavierian University in BogotaŚdefended the practice through his own interpretation of passages from John Paul II's encyclical "Evangelium Vitae," documents from Vatican II and canon law.

On Nov. 12, dozens of young people gathered on campus to protest Fr. Navoa's views. They called on Colombian bishops and the Society of Jesus to make a statement on the controversy.

"Fr. Novoa has repeatedly expressed support for abortion in certain circumstances, which violates the duty of the faithful to protect life from conception to natural death," Fr. Boquet underscored. "In doing so, he has also reportedly misrepresented the words of Blessed Pope John Paul II."

"We must reiterate the Church's teaching as it relates to the indefensible statements of Fr. Novoa."